ABSTRACT
A total of 45 patients with generalized anxiety disorder were treated twice daily for 2 weeks, on a double-blind basis, with 0.5 mg etizolam, 0.5 mg alprazolam or 3 mg bromazepam, and symptoms were assessed using Hamilton's rating scale for anxiety and Hamilton's rating scale for depression. Patients then received the same drug for a further 2 weeks, the drugs being given three times daily if a poor response was observed during the first 2 weeks. All drugs displayed equivalent anxiolytic activity after 2 weeks, but etizolam displayed a progressive increase in anxiolytic activity over 4 weeks of treatment. Etizolam also possessed a more marked antidepressant effect than did alprazolam or bromazepam. There were no differences in the tolerability of the three drugs.
Subject(s)
Alprazolam/therapeutic use , Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy , Bromazepam/therapeutic use , Diazepam/analogs & derivatives , Tranquilizing Agents/therapeutic use , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Clinical Trials as Topic , Diazepam/therapeutic use , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
An original method of testing which can measure interactional patterns is presented. This method is based on a relational model, which describes the relational behaviour as a sequence of elementary interactions, in which a "single bit of information" is exchanged. The model and the testing method are applied to monitoring treatment of patients with psychodrugs.